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B. F. LIEHELD. 4 MUSIC RECORDER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30| 1914.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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Muslc RECORDER.

APPLICATION vFILED MAR. 30. |914.

1 1 94,302. Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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MUSIC RECORDER.

APPLlcATioN FILED MAR.30. |914.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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. F. LIEHELD, MUSIC RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. I9I4. 1,1 94.302. Patented Aug. 8,1916.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

BENJAMIN FREDERICK LIEFIELD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MUSIC-RECORDER.

Application filed March 30, 1914.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FREDERICK LIEEIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements inMusic-Recorders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tone recording apparatus and particularlypertains to an attachment for pianos, organs and like keyed musicalinstruments for indicating and recording tones played thereon.

It is the object of this invention to provide a mechanism which isadapted to be attached to most pianos and organs now generally in use bymeans of which the tones played on the instrument may be recorded.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of the above character which iselectrically operated and to provide a simple means actuated by the keysfor controlling electrical circuits which means can be readily attachedto the key-board and removed therefrom without the use of directconnections to the keys.

A further object is to provide a music recorder with electricallyoperated devicescontrolled by the keys of a certain range of octaves,preferably four, for recording tones played on the instrument in theform of dots; dashes or lines on a recording sheet.

A still further object is to provide a means for indicating notes playedoutside of a range of octavos preferably four so as to simplify theconstruction 'and render it unnecessary to provide individual recording.devices for the notes above the treble staff and below the bass staff.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a view of a piano 1n vertical section showing the inventionas applied. Fig. Q is a detail transverse section of the piano key-boardshowing the switch for completing the electrical circuit by the depression of a piano key, and illustrating in diagram the circuitscontrolled thereby. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a piano key asdepressed, and the circuit closed to perform the note recordingoperation. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A110'. 8, 1916.

serial No. 828,150.

plan view of the tone recording mechanism showing a portion of theconnections to the piano key-board in diagram. Fig. 7 is a View invertical section and elevation on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6 as viewed inthe direction indicated by the arrows; parts being broken away to showthe staff and note recording devices. Fig. 8 is a detail verticalsection of thev motor speed control treadle by which the recording stripcan be caused to travel at various speeds, showing the electricalconnections thereto in diagram. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of same.Fig. 10 is a detail in elevation of the cable for connecting theelectrical devices and the recording mechanism to the circuitcontrolling mechanism on a piano key-board. Fig. 11 is an end elevationof the cable end as seen in the direction of the arrow am in Fig. 10.Fig. 12 is a view of the opposite end of the cable as seen in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a detail inperspective illustrating the manner of forming the staff lines andrecording the tones on the recording strip.l Fig. 14 is a diagramillustrating the manner of recording the notes above the treble staffand below the bass staif. Fig. 15 is a view of the recording stripshowing the manner of indicating the tones and measures thereon. Fig. 16is a view showing the notes and measures as transcribed from therecording sheet, shown in Fig. 15. Figs. 17 and 18 are details inperspective of the recording disks. Fig. 19 is a detail in perspectiveview illustrating the manner of mounting the impression disk bar.

More specifically, 17 indicates the keyboard of a piano,'18 denotes thepiano action controlled thereby, and 19 represents the strings which aresupported on the piano frame in the usual manner.

In carrying out the present invention a series of circuit controllingswitches or circuit makers are removably attached to the piano casing insuch manner as to be actuated by the keys of the piano key-board, andwhich switches and their mounting are so constructed as to notnecessitate attachments to the keys or changes in the piano caseconstruction in applying the invention thereto.

The switch construction is particularly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and f-l andincludes a casing 20 having downturned clips 2l thereon adapted to beengaged by upturned tingers 22 mounted on the rail 28 at the back of thekey-board 17, which casing 2O extends throughout the length of thekeyboard and has a series of horizontally extending contact members 24;therein insulated therefrom and from each other and connected to aconductor 25 leading from a battery 2G, or other suitable source ofelectrical power; a contact member 24 being arranged above each key ofthe key-board.

A series of horizontally extending contact members 27 are arranged onthe casing 2O opposite the ends or the contact members 24 and areinsulated from the latter and from each other; the outer ends of thecontact members 2-l being spaced a short distance from the Contactmembers 27. Leading from each of the contact members 27 is a conductor28 which leads to and terminates in a socket 29'formed in a rectangularplate 30 at one end of the casing 20; a socket being provided for eachconductor 2S. These sockets 29 are designed to receive plugs 3l on theend 32 of a cable 83, the opposite end S-l of which is fitted with studs35 adapted to be inserted in corresponding sockets in a circular plate36 on a portable casing 37, which sockets 36 connect with conductors 38leading to a series of magnets 39, the opposite terminals of which leadto the battery 26 through a conductor 40. A magnet 39 is provided foreach switch 24-27 controlled yby each key within the range of fourGctaves; that is, two octaves above and two octaves below middle C. Theswitches actuated by the remaining keys, control another set of magnetsas will be later described.

The magnets 39 are designed to be energized by the depression of thepiano keys which control the switch members 24 and 27, the closing ofwhich is etfected by means of loose pins Lll of suitable non-conductingmaterial, which are slidable between the ends of the contact members 24and 27 and normally rest on the upper faces of the piano keys withconducting heads 42 on their upper ends positioned out of contact withthe contact members 24 and 27, as shown in Fig. 2, but which pins willgravitate on the depression of a piano key to position the heads 42 incontact with the contact members 2-1- and 27 as illustrated in Fig. 3 tocomplete a circuit through the corresponding magnets 39 as will be laterdescribed.

In order to render the recording mechanism compact, the magnets 39 arearranged in superposed rows on opposite sides of the casing 37 asparticularly shown in Fig. 7; a magnet being provided for each key ot'the instrument within a range ot' two octaves above and two octavesbelow the middle C. Pivoted at i3 and extending above the cores l of themagnets Si) are armature arms t5 which extend toward the center of thecase 37 and terminate above a horizontally extending rail 4G supportedin the case 37 and having a row of alined perforations formed therein,in which perforations a series of vertically disposed stems i7 aremounted; the stems 7 being connected at their upper ends to the outerends of the arms The underside of the rail 4G is curved transverselythroughout its length on an arc of a circle and is positioned to extendparallel with an impression roller 48 concentric therewith.

The roller -lS is covered with a suitable impression material si ch ascarbon paper 9 and is provided with trunnions 5() at its ends which arejournaled in bearings 51. The roller 48 is designed to be rotatedcontinuously in one direction at various predetermined speeds and isrotated by means of a motor 52 having a sprocket wheel on its driveshaft, which sprocket wheel meshes with a chain -ft leading around asprocket wheel 55 mounted on a stud shait extending through a partition57 in the case 37, and which stud shaft carries a small sprocket wheel58 around which a sprocket chain 59 passes; the sprocket chain 59engaging a sprocket wheel GO on the trunnion 50 at one end of the roller41S.

The electric current for operating the motor 52 is supplied throughconductors (il and 62 leading from sockets G3 in the case 37 whichsockets are designed to receive plugs 6-1 having conductors G5 and (36connected thereto. The conductor 6G leads to one terminal of a generator67 of any suitable type; the other terminal (3S ot' which connects witha wiper contact G9 on a treadle 70 pivoted at 7l to a portable base 72,as particularly shown in Fig. 7, and which base is adapted tobe placedin convenient reach ot the foot of the operator. The treadle 70 isnormally disposed in an uppermost position by means of a spring 73 inwhich position the wiper contact 69 will be disposed on an insulatedmember 7-t on a commutator segment indicated at 75, which segmentcomprises a series of contact plates 76, 77 and 78 insulated from eachother, arranged in arcuate alinement and adapted to be traversed by thewiper 69. 76, 77 and 78 connect with conductors 79, S0 and Sl which leadto resistance coils S2, S3 and Si, respectively, of gradually decreasingresistance which coils connect with the conductor 65. The treadle 70 isprovided The contact plates' for the purpose of controlling the speed ofrotation of the motor 52 by permitting more or less current to flowtherethrough as desired to vary the speed of rotation of the roller 48.

Mounted within the case 37 below the roller 48 and extendinglongitudinally therewith on opposite sides thereofl is a feed reel 85and a take-up reel 86, which reels are provided with trunnions at theirends jour naled in suitable bearings. The feed reel 85 is designed toreceive a recording strip 87 of paper or similar material which ispassed from the reel 85 up and over the roll 48 and on to the take-upreel 86. If desired, the recording strip 87 may be directed exteriorlyof the case 37 instead of wound on the reel 86, for which purpose adischarge slot 88 is formed in the case 37 through which the recordingstrip can be passed, as shown in Fig. 7. The take-up reel 86 is designedto be rotated independent of the roller 48 when it is desired to windthe recording strip 87 thereon. For this purpose a spiral spring 89 isprovided, which spring .is of the clock type and adapted to be wound bymeans of a stem 90 to cause it to actuate a gear 91 which meshes with apinion 92 on a trunnion on the take-up reel 86. The spring 89 is only ofsuch tension as to take up the slack of the recording strip 87 as it isadvanced by the roller 48 and is not designed to wind the recordingstrip from one reel to the other 79er se but on y in coperation with theroller 48.

Revolubly mounted on the rail 46 is a series of spaced impression disks93 which are caused to bear against the recording strip 87 to press thelatter against the impression roll at spaced intervals throughout thewidth of the recording strip with suiicient pressure to form continuoussta' lines 94 on the underside thereof. Broken staff lines 94 are formedbelow and between the treble and bass staves, as shown in Fig. 16 byforming the impression disks, by which said lines are formed, withserrated edges. As the direct range of the recording instrument isconfined to four octaves less the two outer ls, only one added lineabove and below the stares is required; such notes as are played out ofthe range of the four octaves being indicated by octave marks formedadjacent the marginal edges of the recording strip as will be laterdescribed.

The pressure of the impression disks 93 on the strip 87 is regulated bymeans of thumb-screws 95, which pass through perforations in the rail 46adjacent the ends of the latter and are screwed into brackets 96 placedon the inner walls of the casing; coiled springs 97 bearing between theupper face of the rail 46 and the heads of the thumb-screws 95 to exerta resilient pressure on the rail 46, as particularly shown in Fig. 19.By adjusting the thumb-screws 95 the degree of pressure exerted on therail 46 may be varied as occasion may demand.

Mounted on the rail 46 and extending longitudinally thereof above theends of the arms is a stop bar 98 for limiting the upward movement ofthe outer ends of the arms 45 when the latter are restored to normal bymeans of springs 45 thereon; the underside of the bar 98 beingpreferably lined with felt to obviate noise when the arms 45 impactthereagainst.

For the purpose of facilitating the insertion and removal of therecording strip 87 the rollerl 48 and the rails 85 and 86 are mounted onconnected end standards 99 formed on base-plate 100 adapted to be seatedon the bottom 101 of the case 37 and slidably engaged at its edges inchannels 102. The outer end 104 of the case 37 is hinged at 103 topermit its being swung outwardly to give access to the interior of theacase. The standards 99 and base-plate 100 can thus be inserted andremoved from the case as desired; the trunnion engaging with thesprocket being squared to slidably engage a corresponding axial openingin the sprocket 60 to permit its being moved in and out of engagementtherewith on withdrawing and replacing the standards 99 and themechanisms carried thereby.

In the operation of the invention the casing 20 is placed in positionabove the piano key-board and held in place by means of the plates 21and 22 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with the pins 41 resting on theupper faces of the keys and with the conducting heads 42 out of contactwith the Contact members 24 and 27. The end of the cable 33 is thenattached to the plate 30 with the ter minal plugs 31 extending into theterminal sockets 29 therein. The opposite end 34 of the cable 38 is thenconnected to the plate 36 on the Case 37 with the terminal plugs 35connecting with corresponding sockets in the plate 36; the case 37 beingdisposed on any suitable support, as on a table, as shownv in Fig. 1.The trea-dle is then placed in convenient reach of the foot of theoperator and the conductors 66 and 68 are connected to the source ofelectrical supply 67 and the conductors G5 and 66 connected to theconductors 61 and 62 leading to the motor The operator, on depressingthe treadle 70 to move the wiper contact 69 into electrical connectionwith the contact member 76, sets the motor 52 in operation at a slowspeed which speed can be increased as occasion demands by moving thewiper contact 69 into connection with the contact members and 78. Theoperation of the motor 52 rotates the impression roll 48 therebyadvancing the recording strip 87 beneath 'the rail 46 whereupon thestaff lines 94 will be formed by the action of the impression disks 93,as before described. On the depression of any of the piano keys within arange of two octaves above and two octavos below the middle C, a circuitwill be completed from the battery 20 through the contact members 24 and27 and the intermediate conductor 42 which conductor will gravitate tocomplete the circuit on the depression of the key. The circuit thuscompleted will pass through the particular magnet 39 controlled by theoperator key, which magnet on being energized will depress the arm 45adapted to be oper ated thereby to move an impression disk 105 on thelower end of the stem 47 attached thereto into contact with therecording strip S7, thereby pressing the latter against the impressionroll 49 and forming a line on its underside as the strip advances to alength proportional to the duration of the depression of the piano key.The recorded line will be formed in such relation to the staff lines 94as to indicate the pitch of the note played; the time of the note beingdenoted by the length of the line, and its relation to other notes beingindicated by the beginning and ending of the line.

As a means for distinguishing the natural keys from the sharps andflats, the impression disks 105 controlled by the natural keys areformed with peripheral serrations 10G, as shown in Fig. 17, so as toform a plurality of parallel lines 107 on the recording strip, as shownin Fig. 15. For indicating sharps or iiats the impression disks 105 areformed with a single broad peripheral face, as indi! cated at 10S inFig. 18, so as to form heavy solid lines as indicated at 109 in Fig. 15.For the purpose of denoting such tones as are played above the secondoctave above middle C and below the second octave below middle C, meansare provided whereby the operation of anyone of the piano keys outsideof the range of the four octaves before mentioned will act to operatethe recording mechanism controlled by the corresponding key in thesecond octave above or below middle C and at the same time eifect theoperation of a recording device which is adapted to be operated by aplurality of keys. This arrangement does away with the necessity ofproviding a separate magnet for each piano key and enables the recordingof all notes played on a comparatively narrow strip within the rangeextending from the second added line below the bass staff and t-hesecond added line above the treble statt inclusive; the notes outside ofhis range being indicated by companion lines formed adjacent the marginof the recording strip pa 'allel with lines formed by a recording devicecontrolled by the corresponding key in the companion octave. This meansis particularly shown in Fig. 14 and consists of recording arms 110 and111 corresponding to the arms 45 and adapted to be operated by magnets112 and 113 and arranged to form lines on the recording strip 97adjacent the margin thereof, and above the treble staff. In addition tocontact makers 24-27, a second contact maker is provided for each keyabove the second octave above middle C, and below the second octavebelow middle C. The second contact makers are of the same constructionas contact makers 24-27 and are indicated in the third octave abovemiddle C by 117118, .and the fourth octave above middle C by 123-124.

One terminal of a magnet 112 connects with a conductor 114, connectedwith a contact member 27 on each of the keys in the third octave abovemiddle C; the contact members 24 of which are connected to conductors115 which connect with the conductor 28 leading from the contact member27 of the corresponding key in the second octave above middle C. Theother terminal of the magnet 112 connects with conductor 11G which leadsto and connects with the contact member 117 on each of the keys withinthe third octave above middle C.

One terminal of a magnet 113 is electrically connected through conductor121 with a contact member 27 on each of the keys in the fourth octaveabove middle C. rThe contact makers 24 are connected to the conductorsleading from corresponding keys of the second octave above middle C.Thus, the contact maker 24 on key C'1 is connected to the conductor 115which leads to conductor 2S and magnet 39. The other terminal of magnet113 is connected by conductors to contact members 123 on each of thekeys in the fourth octave above middle C. Contact members 124 are eachconnected to a common bus 25. If key C2 is struck a circuit is completedfrom battery 2G through contact 24, pin 41, contact 27, conductor 28,magnet 39 to the other side of battery 2G, thereby causing an impressionto be made on the record. Tf key C3 is struck, a circuit is completedfrom battery 26 through conductor 25, contact 11S, the Contact makingpin, contact 117 conductor 11G, magnet 112, conductor 114, contact 27,pin 41, contact 24, conductor 115, conductor 2S, magnet 39 to the otherside of the battery. The closing of the circuit last described causesmagnet 39 to actuate the recording mechanism which indicates the note,and magnet 112 to actuate the octave recording mechanism which indicatesthe octave.

The arm 110 which is actuated by magnet 112 is tted with an impressiondisk corresponding to the disk 105 so as to form a double dotted line onthe recording sheet. l'.Vhen anyone of the keys in the third octaveabove middle C is depressed a circuit to the magnet 112 is closed and acircuit leading to the magnet 39 in circuit with the corresponding keyin the second octave above middle C. A double record will therefore bemade at this time as indicated at 119 and 120 in Fig. 15, which recordwill designate that in inscribing from the record the note indicated asthe first C above middle C should be Written in second C above middle Cand so on as illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16. In like manner the magnet113 as Well as one of its terminals connecting to the conductor 121leading to the contact members 27 on all the keys of the fouroctavesabove middle C and has its other terminal connecting withconductors 122 leading to contact members 123 adapted to be connectedwith contact members 124 connected to the conductor 25 so as to completea circuit through the magnet 113 to energize the latter when anyone ofthe keys of the four octaves above middle C is depressed, and at thesame time energize the magnet 39 controlled by the corresponding key inthe second octave above middle C so as to form a double record. As ameans for distinguishingr the records made by the arm 6 the arm 110 orarm 111, the indicating disk thereon is so designed as to form a tripleline 125 as indicated in Figs. 14: and 15. By this arrangement all thekeys played in the four octaves above middle C Will be recorded on thesheet in the second octave above middle C and will have the companionmark 125 parallel therewith to indicate to the transcriber that the noteplayed belongs in the fourth octave above middle C. In like manner thenotes played in the third octave below middle C will be recorded; thearm 126 and magnet 127 as shown in Fig. 6 being provided for thispurose.

p As a means for indicating the measures, an arm 128 and a magnet 129 isprovided, which magnet is adapted to be energized by a depression of atreadle 130 which closes a circuit through the magnet 29 and therebycauses the arm 128 to be operated to move a recording disk on the arm128 in contact with the strip 87 to form a mark consisting of a seriesof four dotted lines on the strip as indicated at 131 in Fig. 15. Thetreadle 130 is operated according to the time of the music beingrecorded; the bar 30 being depressed at every point Where a bar Would beindicated.

What I claim is:

1. In a music recorder, the combination of branch electrical circuitseach controlled by a key in an octave of a musical instrument, aplurality of magnets one in each branch circuit, a tone recording meansoperated by each of the magnets, means by which each of said magnets andits tone-recording means Will be operated by the depression of acorresponding key in another octave of the instrument, a separatemagnet, and a recording device operated by said separate magnetenergized by the depression of anyone of the keys in said other octave.

2. In a music recorder, the combination olf branch electrical circuitseach controlled by a keyv of an octave in a keyed musical instrument, aseries of electrically operated tone recording devices, one in eachbranch circuit, means by which each of the keys in another octave of theinstrument Will actuate the corresponding tone recording device in thefirst mentioned octave, and an octave recording device operated upon thedepression of anyone of the keys in the last mentioned octave but notoperated upon the depression of any one of the keys in the lirstmentioned octave.

3. In a music recorder, the combination of means for feeding a recordingstrip, movable marking members normally out of contact with saidrecording strip, electrically actuated means for moving said markingmembers into contact with said strip, a pair of electrical control meansconnected to each electrically actuated means, one electrical controlmeans being located so as to be operated by a key of one octave and theother by the corresponding key of a second octave, a movable octavemarking member, electrically actuated means for moving said octavemarking member, and electrical control means located so as to beoperated by each key oi the second octave, and electrically connected tothe last mentioned electrically actuated means.

4. In a music recorder, the combination of a circuit closing devicecomprising a casing shaped to lit over a piano keyboard; a pair ofelectrical conducting strips for cach key of an octave; a pair ofelectrical conducting strips for each key of a second octave; a contactmaker for each pair of said strips located so that each contact makerengages With one key; a second pair of electrical conducting strips foreach key ot' the second octave, a contact maker for each second pair ofstrips located so that each of said contact makers engages With one keyof said second octave; a tone recording device comprising electricallyactuated tone markers, one terminal of each connected electrically witha strip of a pair of strips for each key of the irst mentioned octave,the other terminal of each tone marker connected to a source ofelectrical energy, the other strip oi' each pair of strips `for each keyof the first mentioned octave connected electrically to said source ofelectrical energy; an octave-recording device comprising an electricallyactuated octave marker, one terminal thereo` connected electrically witha strip of each pair of strips for each ke v of the second octave, theother i: strip ot each of said pairs being connected to a terminal of atone marker connected to a corresponding` key in the first mentionedoctave, the other terminal of said octave marker electrically connectedwith a strip l0 of each second pair of strips for each key of the secondoctave, the other strip of cach of said pairs being connected to theother terminal of said source of electrical energy. In Witness that Iclaim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed mv name this -lth i dayof March, 1914.

BENJAMIN FREDERICK LIEFIELD. Witnesses EDMUND A. S'rnixt'sn, MiininBATTnY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

